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Increased rates of anxiety and depression have been reported for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known regarding the onset of mental health morbidity during the acute phase of the disease and the role of age as potential independent risk factor for psychiatric symptoms. The cross-sectional association between older age and psychiatric symptoms has been estimated in a sample of 130 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Compared to younger patients, those who were 70 years of age or older resulted at a higher risk of psychiatric symptoms measured on the Brief Psychiatric Symptoms Rating Scale (BPRS) (adjusted (adj.) odds ratio (OR) 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–5.30) and delirium (adj. OR 5.24, 95% CI 1.63–16.8)). No association was found between older age and depressive symptoms or anxiety. Age was associated with psychiatric symptoms independently of gender, marital status, history of psychiatric illness, severity of disease and cardiovascular morbidity. Older adults appear at high risk of developing psychiatric symptoms related to COVID-19 disease during hospital stay. Multidisciplinary preventive and therapeutic interventions should be implemented to reduce the risk of psychiatric morbidity and related adverse health care outcomes among older hospital inpatients with COVID-19.

Environmentally friendly energy storage devices have been fabricated by using functional materials obtained from completely renewable resources. Gelatin, chitosan, casein, guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose have been investigated as sustainable and low-cost binders within the electrode active material of water-processable symmetric carbon-based supercapacitors. Such binders are selected from natural-derived materials and industrial by-products to obtain economic and environmental benefits. The electrochemical properties of the devices based on the different binders are compared by using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge curves and impedance spectroscopy. The fabricated supercapacitors exhibit series resistance lower than a few ohms and values of the specific capacitance ranged between 30 F/g and 80 F/g. The most performant device can deliver ca. 3.6 Wh/kg of energy at a high power density of 3925 W/kg. Gelatin, casein and carboxymethyl cellulose-based devices have shown device stability up to 1000 cycles. Detailed analysis on the charge storage mechanisms (e.g., involving faradaic and non-faradaic processes) at the electrode/electrolyte interface reveals a pseudocapacitance behavior within the supercapacitors. A clear correlation between the electrochemical performances (e.g., cycle stability, capacitance retention, series resistance value, coulombic efficiency) ageing phenomena and charge storage mechanisms within the porous carbon-based electrode have been discussed.

We introduce $q$-deformed connections on the quantum 2-sphere and 3-sphere, satisfying a twisted Leibniz rule in analogy with $q$-deformed derivations. We show that such connections always exist on projective modules. Furthermore, a condition for metric compatibility is introduced, and an explicit formula is given, parametrizing all metric connections on a free module. On the quantum 3-sphere, a q-deformed torsion freeness condition is introduced and we derive explicit expressions for the Christoffel symbols of a Levi-Civita connection for a general class of metrics. We also give metric connections on a class of projective modules over the quantum 2-sphere. Finally, we outline a generalization to any Hopf algebra with a (left) covariant calculus and associated quantum tangent space., This paper extends and partially overlaps with arXiv:2005.02603

It is well known that "bad" quotient spaces (typically: non-Hausdorff) can be studied by associating to them the groupoid C*-algebra of an equivalence relation, that in the "nice" cases is Morita equivalent to the C*-algebra of continuous functions vanishing at infinity on the quotient space. It was recently proposed by A. Connes and W.D. van Suijlekom that a similar procedure for relations that are reflexive and symmetric but fail to be transitive (i.e. tolerance relations) leads to an operator system. In this paper we observe that such an operator system carries a natural product that, although in general non-associative, arises in a number of relevant examples. We relate this product to truncations of (C*-algebras of) topological spaces, discuss some geometric aspects and a connection with positive operator valued measures., 23 pages; v3, minor corrections

Many materials have been explored as a counter electrode material to replace platinum electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, CoxSy/NixSy/MoxSy composites at two different compositions, namely, CNM10, CNM25 were synthesized via hydrothermal method. The XRD, FE-SEM, and EDX analysis of the samples confirmed the formation of CNM10 and CNM25 composites. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) study of CNM10 and CNM25 electrodes showed faster triiodide ion reduction at the electrode/electrolyte interface than the Pt electrode. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies of CNM10 and CNM25 electrodes showed lower RCT values for both CNM10 and CNM25 electrodes than that of a Pt electrode. Tafel polarization measurement showed a higher limiting current value of CNM25 followed by CNM10 and Pt electrodes. Based on these studies, DSSCs were fabricated using CNM10, CNM25, and Pt CE. CNM25 CE showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) (7.8%) with VOC of 824 mV, and JSC of 15.7 mA cm−2, whereas, Pt CE showed PCE of 6.5% with VOC of 775 mV and JSC of 13.2 mA cm−2.

Dopaminergic nigrostriatal denervation and widespread intracellular α-synuclein accumulation are neuropathologic hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD). A constellation of peripheral processes, including metabolic and inflammatory changes, are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration. In the present study, we sought to obtain insight into the multifaceted pathophysiology of PD through the application of a multi-marker discovery approach. Fifty older adults aged 70+, 20 with PD and 30 age-matched controls were enrolled as part of the EXosomes in PArkiNson Disease (EXPAND) study. A panel of 68 circulating mediators of inflammation, neurogenesis and neural plasticity, and amino acid metabolism was assayed. Biomarker selection was accomplished through sequential and orthogonalized covariance selection (SO-CovSel), a multi-platform regression method developed to handle highly correlated variables organized in multi-block datasets. The SO-CovSel model with the best prediction ability using the smallest number of variables was built with seven biomolecules. The model allowed correct classification of 94.2 ± 3.1% participants with PD and 100% controls. The biomarker profile of older adults with PD was defined by higher circulating levels of interleukin (IL) 8, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β, phosphoethanolamine, and proline, and by lower concentrations of citrulline, IL9, and MIP-1α. Our innovative approach allowed identifying and evaluating the classification performance of a set of potential biomarkers for PD in older adults. Future studies are warranted to establish whether these biomolecules could serve as biomarkers for PD as well as unveil new targets for interventions. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11357-020-00192-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A new method has been developed for surface treatment of TiO2 photoanodes with LiI/NaI to enhance the photocurrent and, subsequently, the performance efficiency of the fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Three different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mmol%) of LiI and NaI solutions were used to investigate the effect of this surface treatment on the device performance of DSSCs. A positive shift in the energy level of TiO2 has been experienced by surface treated devices, which is predominantly supported by the decrease in VOC. Furthermore, the introduction of LiI/NaI onto the TiO2 surface resulted in a reduction in the crystallite size, indicating an increase in the surface area which helps in more dye adsorption leading to higher JSC values of the devices. Besides, modification of the conduction band energy level, it also allows a fast electron injection process by shifting the density of states. Thus, this approach offers a simple but efficient route to enhance the photocurrent and efficiency of DSSCs.

Infinitesimal symmetries of a classical mechanical system are usually described by a Lie algebra acting on the phase space, preserving the Poisson brackets. We propose that a quantum analogue is the action of a Lie bi-algebra on the associative $*$-algebra of observables. The latter can be thought of as functions on some underlying non-commutative manifold. We illustrate this for the non-commutative torus $\mathbb{T}^2_\theta$. The canonical trace defines a Manin triple from which a Lie bi-algebra can be constructed. In the special case of rational $\theta=\frac{M}{N}$ this Lie bi-algebra is $\underline{GL}(N)=\underline{U}(N)\oplus \underline{B}(N)$, corresponding to unitary and upper triangular matrices. The Lie bi-algebra has a remnant in the classical limit $N\to\infty$: the elements of $\underline{U}(N)$ tend to real functions while $\underline{B}(N)$ tends to a space of complex analytic functions., Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure

Background and aims: The need for intimacy and sexual expression is an essential dimension of quality of life. As patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have to cope with essential changes in their global and sexual functioning, achieving a satisfying intimate and sexual relationship can be challenging. Sexual experience is a complex process that involves a dyadic relationship. In this study, we aimed to characterize the sexual experience of patients with Parkinson's disease and patients' vs caregivers' perceptions. Methods Twenty-seven PD patients and their caregivers were asked to complete the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) anonymously. They were instructed to refer to their sexual behavior over the past year and to consider behavioral changes that lasted for at least four consecutive weeks. Results Our data suggest that when considering sexual perceptions in PD, there is often agreement of judgment between patients and their partners. Overall, they have a rather good sex life, especially in the early stage of the disease, with similar behavior shown by men and women. Conclusions The effect of PD on the sexual and couple relationship challenges healthcare professionals to focus on the needs of both partners and to plan specific interventions in such a way as to prevent the deterioration of the couples' sexual wellbeing.

Expensive Pt counter electrodes remain an obstacle for the commercialization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Therefore, research focusing on low-cost alternative counter electrode materials has been considered important for their commercialization. Here, the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells has been performed utilizing CoS2 and MoS2 coated CoS2 nanocomposite materials as the counter electrode, which are synthesized via a hydrothermal route involving low-cost precursor materials. The experimental results obtained from XRD, XPS, EDX, SEM, TEM, and Raman etc. have confirmed the successful formation of CoS2 and MoS2 coated CoS2 nanocomposites. The electrochemical characterization of these materials is performed, which suggests that the electrocatalytic activity towards the liquid iodine electrolyte of these materials is as good as that of the conventional Pt counter electrodes. So, dye-sensitized solar cell devices are fabricated by interpolating a (cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(ii)) dye-loaded TiO2 photoanode and CoS2, MoS2 coated CoS2 and Pt counter electrodes using iodine/iodide as a liquid electrolyte. The devices fabricated with CoS2 counter electrodes have shown an open circuit voltage of 790 mV, a short circuit current of 11.9 mA cm-2, a fill factor of 0.54, and a power conversion efficiency of 6%. On the other hand, the device based on a Pt counter electrode has shown an open circuit voltage of 773 mV, a short circuit current of 13.4 mA cm-2, a fill factor of 0.54, and a power conversion efficiency of 6.6%. In addition, MoS2 coated with a CoS2 counter electrode has shown the best performance with an open circuit voltage of 763 mV, a short circuit current of 20.1 mA cm-2, a fill factor of 0.42, and a power conversion efficiency of 7.6%.

Highly efficient perovskite based solar cells have the potential to be a game-changing solar array technology for space applications that can be flexible, truly roll-able, ultra-lightweight and highly stowable. Outside earth's magnetic field, however, ionizing radiation causes localized defect states that accumulate and ultimately cause the failure of electronic devices. This study, assesses the radiation hardness of the widely used triple cation based perovskite absorber material, namely Cs0.05MA0.17FA0.83Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 employing 20 and 68 MeV proton irradiation. Therefore, in situ measurements of the degradation of the proton induced current as well as the photovoltaic performance during proton irradiation are used as two independent metrics. Both measurements suggest that triple cation perovskites even exceed the radiation hardness of SiC, which is a material often proposed to possess an excellent radiation hardness. Our optimized Cs0.05MA0.17FA0.83Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3 based space solar cells reach efficiencies of 18.8% under AM0 illumination and maintain 95% of their initial efficiency even after irradiation with protons at an energy 68 MeV and a total dose of 1012 p per cm2. Degradation under 20 MeV proton irradiation is even lower. Despite the negligible impact on solar cell device performance, this study identifies that proton irradiation is changing the recombination kinetics under low excitation densities profoundly. Dark capacitance–voltage and current–voltage characteristics, photoluminescence spectra as well as photoluminescence and Voc decays are analyzed in depth. Surprisingly, two fold prolonged PL and Voc decay times are observed after proton irradiation. Often, such prolongations are attributed to a reduced charge recombination. Our kinetic model, precisely describing the observed time evolution after photoexcitation, however, establishes the prolonged release of trapped minority charge carriers from proton-radiation induced trap states.

Dye-sensitized solar cells are assembled with MoS2 nanosheets based counter electrodes synthesized via hydrothermal route using ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate and thiourea as precursor materials. Basic and specific studies are followed to characterize MoS2 as counter electrode material by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies. Dye-sensitized solar cells device is fabricated by using fluorine-doped tin oxide glass plate coated with TiO2 as photoanode, Cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) dye as a light harvester, and iodine/iodide as a liquid electrolyte. The fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells device with MoS2 counter electrode showed an open circuit voltage of 795 mV, short circuit current of 19.6 mA/cm2, fill factor of 0.36, and power conversion efficiency of 6.6% upon comparing to Pt counter electrode which showed an open circuit voltage of 827 mV, short circuit current of 14.8 mA/cm2, fill factor of 0.47, and power conversion efficiency of 6.8%. In addition to this, MoS2 coupled reduced graphene oxide counter electrodes are prepared by simply dispersing reduced graphene oxide and MoS2 in isopropyl alcohol which showed the best performance with open circuit voltage of 800 mV, short circuit current of 20.5 mA/cm2, fill factor of 0.42, and power conversion efficiency of 8.1%.

To investigate caregivers and patients characteristics related to different dimensions of burden in Parkinson’s disease (PD). 55 pairs of PD patients and caregivers were recruited. The burden was evaluated with the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI). Multivariate analysis was applied to evaluate the impact of caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics on the varying aspects of burden. ADL score was the dominant predictor for the total score and all dimensions of CBI, except for the social burden, which is strongly predicted by the motor severity of PD. As one can easily imagine, the Total CBI decreases as the ADL score increases. An increased appreciation for characteristics of caregiver burden is a fundamental aspect of the patient’s global evaluation. Clinicians may need to directly probe for these factors in the caregiver as they may not be elicited routinely.

We study the Ehresmann--Schauenburg bialgebroid of a noncommutative principal bundle as a quantization of the gauge groupoid of a classical principal bundle. We show that the gauge group of the noncommutative bundle is isomorphic to the group of bisections of the bialgebroid, and we give a crossed module structure for the bisections and the automorphisms of the bialgebroid. Examples illustrating these constructions include: Galois objects of Taft algebras, a monopole bundle over a quantum spheres and a not faithfully flat Hopf--Galois extension of commutative algebras. The latter two examples have in fact a structure of Hopf algebroid for a suitable invertible antipode., Comment: 33 pages. Sect. 5.1 expanded. Few minor changes. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2002.06097

Amorphous silicon-based thin-film minimodules have been irradiated with 68MeV protons up to a dose of 1×1012 protons/cm2. During the irradiation, the solar cell current under short circuit conditions, due to the photogeneration of charge carriers by the low-intensity room light and the radiation-induced generation of charge carriers, has been measured. Whereas the degradation of the photo-induced current can be continuously monitored during the experiment, the smaller radiation-induced current is only visible in current discontinuities at the beginning and the end of the radiation period. In our experiment, we measured a very similar decrease in the photo- and the radiation-induced current, both due to the proton irradiation. Therefore, we can infer that the degradation of the solar cells’ photoelectrical properties is mainly due to the degradation of the amorphous silicon active material and only to a smaller content to the glass substrate’s optical transmission properties. Directly after irradiation, we observed a continuous recovery of the photo-induced current, due to the room-temperature annealing of the electronic defects created in the amorphous silicon absorber layer.

In this note, we generalize a result of Mikkelsen–Szymański and show that, for every [Formula: see text], any bounded ∗-representation of the quantum symplectic sphere [Formula: see text] annihilates the first [Formula: see text] generators. We then classify irreducible representations of its coordinate algebra [Formula: see text].

We continue the study of solitons over noncommutative tori from the perspective of time-frequency analysis and treat the case of a general topological charge. Solutions are associated with vector bundles of higher rank over noncommutative tori. We express these vector bundles in terms of vector-valued Gabor frames and apply the duality theory of Gabor analysis to show that Gaussians are solitons of general topological charge over noncommutative tori. An energy functional for projections over noncommutative tori is the basis for the self and anti-self duality equations of the solitons which turns out to have a reformulation in terms of Gabor atoms and we prove that projections generated by Gaussians minimize this energy functional. Finally, we comment on the case of the Moyal plane and the associated continuous vector-valued Gabor frames and show that Gaussians are the only class of solitons.

A new method has been developed for surface treatment of TiO2 photoanodes with LiI/NaI to enhance the photocurrent and, subsequently, the performance efficiency of the fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Three different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mmol%) of LiI and NaI solutions were used to investigate the effect of this surface treatment on the device performance of DSSCs. A positive shift in the energy level of TiO2 has been experienced by surface treated devices, which is predominantly supported by the decrease in VOC. Furthermore, the introduction of LiI/NaI onto the TiO2 surface resulted in a reduction in the crystallite size, indicating an increase in the surface area which helps in more dye adsorption leading to higher JSC values of the devices. Besides, modification of the conduction band energy level, it also allows a fast electron injection process by shifting the density of states. Thus, this approach offers a simple but efficient route to enhance the photocurrent and efficiency of DSSCs.

Introduction. The fractures that occurred around trochanteric nails (perinail fractures, PNFs) are becoming a huge challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Although presenting some specific critical issues (i.e., patients’ outcomes and treatment strategies), these fractures are commonly described within peri-implant ones and their treatment was based on periprosthetic fracture recommendations. The knowledge gap about PNFs leads us to convene a research group with the aim to propose a specific classification system to guide the orthopaedic surgeon in the management of these fractures. Materials and Methods. A steering committee, identified by two Italian associations of orthopaedic surgeons, conducted a comprehensive literature review on PNFs to identify the unmet needs about this topic. Subsequently, a panel of experts was involved in a consensus meeting proposing a specific classification system and formulated treatment statements for PNFs. Results and Discussion. The research group considered four PNF main characteristics for the classification proposal: (1) fracture localization, (2) fracture morphology, (3) fracture fragmentation, and (3) healing status of the previous fracture. An alphanumeric code was included to identify each characteristic, allowing to describe up to 54 categories of PNFs, using a 3- to 4-digit code. The proposal of the consensus-based classification reporting the most relevant aspects for PNF treatment might be a useful tool to guide the orthopaedic surgeon in the appropriate management of these fractures.

Summary Monolithic [Cs0.05(MA0.17FA0.83)0.95]Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (perovskite/CIGS) tandem solar cells promise high performance and can be processed on flexible substrates, enabling cost-efficient and ultra-lightweight space photovoltaics with power-to-weight and power-to-cost ratios surpassing those of state-of-the-art III-V semiconductor-based multijunctions. However, to become a viable space technology, the full tandem stack must withstand the harsh radiation environments in space. Here, we design tailored operando and ex situ measurements to show that perovskite/CIGS cells retain over 85% of their initial efficiency even after 68 MeV proton irradiation at a dose of 2 × 1012 p+/cm2. We use photoluminescence microscopy to show that the local quasi-Fermi-level splitting of the perovskite top cell is unaffected. We identify that the efficiency losses arise primarily from increased recombination in the CIGS bottom cell and the nickel-oxide-based recombination contact. These results are corroborated by measurements of monolithic perovskite/silicon-heterojunction cells, which severely degrade to 1% of their initial efficiency due to radiation-induced recombination centers in silicon., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Halide perovskite sub-cells exhibit strong proton irradiation resiliency • Novel operando characterization distinguishes degradation of individual sub-cells • Perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells retain 85% of their initial efficiency after irradiation • Perovskite/SHJ tandem solar cells degrade to 1% of their initial efficiency after irradiation, Context & Scale Monolithic perovskite/silicon and perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells could facilitate large-scale decarbonization of the power sector, provided their long-term stability is proven. In this work, we test the stability of both technologies under high-energy proton irradiation. While this mimics the radiation environment in space, our versatile operando and ex situ methodology is also suitable for studying the long-term stability of multijunction solar cells for terrestrial applications. We find that perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells are unsuitable for space, whereas perovskite/CIGS tandems are radiation-hard, promising cheap, flexible, and ultra-lightweight space photovoltaics. Both the growing demand for smaller, cheaper satellites and the privatization of space exploration are revolutionizing space economics, providing an ideal niche for the commercialization of this new technology until the levelized cost-of-electricity can compete with current terrestrial photovoltaics., We propose and test monolithic perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells for readily stowable, ultra-lightweight space photovoltaics. We design operando and ex situ measurements to show that perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells retain over 85% of their initial power-conversion efficiency after high-energy proton irradiation. While the perovskite sub-cell is unaffected after this bombardment, we identify increased non-radiative recombination in the CIGS bottom cell and nickel-oxide-based recombination layer. By contrast, monolithic perovskite/silicon-heterojunction cells degrade to 1% of their initial efficiency due to radiation-induced defects in silicon.

A syndiotactic polystyrene/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite based electrical heater and temperature sensor has been investigated regarding its room-temperature bolometer functionality in the near-infrared wavelength range. With the appropriate electrical contact material, a perfectly linear current-voltage characteristics and very good room-temperature conductivity stability has been obtained after a prior Joule heating burn-in procedure. Using LEDs at 780 nm and 1300 nm for excitation a linear, with respect to the light intensity, bolometer operation with good long-term stability and a very good signal-to-noise ratio has been achieved.

Systemic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Extracellular vesicle (EV) trafficking may link inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In the present study, circulating small EVs (sEVs) from 16 older adults with PD and 12 non-PD controls were purified and characterized. A panel of serum inflammatory biomolecules was measured by multiplex immunoassay. Protein levels of three tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, and CD81) and selected mitochondrial markers (adenosine triphosphate 5A (ATP5A), mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (MTCOI), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced form (NADH):ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8 (NDUFB8), NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S3 (NDUFS3), succinate dehydrogenase complex iron sulfur subunit B (SDHB), and ubiquinol-cytochrome C reductase core protein 2 (UQCRC2)) were quantified in purified sEVs by immunoblotting. Relative to controls, PD participants showed a greater amount of circulating sEVs. Levels of CD9 and CD63 were lower in the sEV fraction of PD participants, whereas those of CD81 were similar between groups. Lower levels of ATP5A, NDUFS3, and SDHB were detected in sEVs from PD participants. No signal was retrieved for UQCRC2, MTCOI, or NDUFB8 in either participant group. To identify a molecular signature in circulating sEVs in relationship to systemic inflammation, a low level-fused (multi-platform) partial least squares discriminant analysis was applied. The model correctly classified 94.2% ± 6.1% PD participants and 66.7% ± 5.4% controls, and identified seven biomolecules as relevant (CD9, NDUFS3, C-reactive protein, fibroblast growth factor 21, interleukin 9, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha). In conclusion, a mitochondrial signature was identified in circulating sEVs from older adults with PD, in association with a specific inflammatory profile. In-depth characterization of sEV trafficking may allow identifying new biomarkers for PD and possible targets for personalized interventions.